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Robert S. Gandy, Jr., 65, of Ridgeway, S.C., died unexpectedly Dec. 24, 2019 at his home.

He was born Aug. 11, 1954, in Ridley Park, Pa., and grew up in Selma. He graduated from Smithfield-Selma Senior High in 1972, attended Johnston County Community College and Widener College in Chester, Pa. before earning a bachelor’s degree and an master’s of public administration degree in public management and policy in 1985 at Appalachian State University. He began his career in Plymouth before being hired in Southport, where he was the city’s longest serving manager, 1993-2008. After retirement, he was the harbormaster at Deep Point Marina, but returned to city management in Southport as interim manager in 2013 and in Oak Island as interim co-manager in 2016. He was known as a working manager, for his readiness to get out from behind his desk and do whatever job needed to be done. He always said that was a lesson he learned from his dad. He was a sailor and loved the ocean. In 1995, 1996 and 1997, he captured top honors skippering his sailboat Seldom Seen during the Summer Race Series of the Cape Fear Yacht Club. In 2018, “Robbie,” as he was known to many, moved to Lake Wateree in South Carolina to be closer to family, also achieving his dream of living on the water.

He was preceded in death by: his parents, Robert (Bob) Sr. and Ann Gandy; and his grandparents, Fred and Evelyn Hartman of Media, Pa., and Arthur and Margaretta Gandy of Collingdale, Pa.

Survivors: his sisters, Karen G. Sampson (Dave) of Raleigh, Chris G. Slappey (Bill) of Ridgeway, S.C., Beth G. Cassidy (Todd) of Mocksville; nieces, April Robson, Sarah Slappey, Laura Cox, and Katie Whitaker; nephews, Ben Sampson and Sam Cassidy; 2 great-nieces; 3 great-nephews; cousins; and his “wingman,” his dog Deacon “Deke” Blue.

The family plans to hold celebration of life services in South Carolina and Southport in the near future.

Memorials: Make-A-Wish Foundation; Danny & Ron’s Rescue of Camden, S.C.; and The American Heart Association.